Lunch Reading: Liberty

"What’s More Important: Liberty Or The Entity That Protects It?" by Chuck Baldwin

Some favorite quotes:

. . . Thomas Jefferson–and the rest of America’s founders–believed that freedom was the principal possession, because liberty is a divine–not human–gift. . .

Jefferson could not be clearer: America’s founders desired a land in which men might live in liberty. By declaring independence from the government of Great Britain (and instituting new government), Jefferson, et al., did not intend to erect an idol (government) that men would worship. . .

To America’s founders, patriotism had everything to do with the love of liberty, not the love of government!

Today’s brand of patriotism (at least as expressed by many) is totally foreign to the fundamental principles of liberty upon which America was built. I’m talking about the idea that government is an end and aim in itself; the idea that government must be protected from the people; the idea that bigger government equals better government; the idea that criticism of the government makes one unpatriotic; the idea that government is a panacea for all our ills; and the idea that loyalty to the nation equals loyalty to the government. All of this is a bunch of bull manure!

Full Article: "What’s More Important: Liberty Or The Entity That Protects It?" by Chuck Baldwin (About a 10 minute read)

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Earth Day!

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
Revelation 4:11

Psalm 65:2-13 (from The Message) [ESV Translation here]

We all arrive at your doorstep sooner
or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us—
but you get rid of them once and for all.
Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest
at home in your place!
We expect our fill of good things
in your house, your heavenly manse.
All your salvation wonders
are on display in your trophy room.
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
of mobs in noisy riot—
Far and wide they'll come to a stop,
they'll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
calling, "Come and worship."

Oh, visit the earth,
ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
Oh, oh, let them sing!

This earth day remember our duty to care for the earth, but also remember to worship the Creator and not the creation!

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:26-31



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Bible Challenge 2010 - Week 2

The Bible Knights Quest! - Bible Challenge 2010 - Week 2 - 04/18/2010

Week 2 - Luke Chapter 2
 
Knights and Ladies,
 
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

Jesus was born our Savior and Lord! Born "Messiah and Master." (The Message)

"Compare Isaiah 9:6 , 'Unto us a Child is born.' It is a birth--'The Word is made flesh' ( John 1:14 ). When? 'This day.' Where? 'In the city of David'--in the right line and at the right 'spot'; where prophecy bade us look for Him, and faith accordingly expected Him. How dear to us should be these historic moorings of our faith! . . . a Saviour--not One who shall be a Saviour, but 'born a Saviour.'"
("The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871)

"These three titles [Savior, Christ, Lord] reveal the greatness of Mary's son. . . The astonishing announcement, probably not fully grasped by the shepherds, is that this Messiah who has been born as a baby is also the Lord God himself."
("The ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version" 2008, Crossway Bibles)

Commentaries:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/
 
Accept the challenge, take the quest!

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“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
 
A prayer for the use of Holy Scripture:
 
O Gracious God and most merciful Father, who has granted us the rich and precious jewel of Your holy word, assist us with Your Spirit, that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us according to Your own Image, to build us up, and to instruct us into the perfect building of Christlikeness, sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly virtues. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
(adapted from the “1599 Geneva Bible” Tolle Lege Press, 2006-2007)
 


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Peoria County National Day of Prayer Gathering

National Day of Prayer Gathering
Thursday May 6, 2010
Peoria County Courthouse Plaza
324 Main Street, Peoria IL
Noon – 1

Join us for a time of intercession for our region and
nation as we are led in prayer by area ministers and
leaders. We will gather by the fountain in the Plaza area.
Additional information at http://nationaldayofprayer.org



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Bible Challenge 2010 - Week 1

The Bible Knights Quest! - Bible Challenge 2010 - Week 1 - 04/11/2010

Luke Chapter 1
 
Knights and Ladies,
 
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word."
Luke 1:1-2

Luke's "carefully investigated" record of the accounts of the "eyewitnesses" so that we "may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." (Luke 1:1-4)

"Many had undertaken to give an account of that which was historically received among Christians, as related to them by the companions of Jesus; and Luke thought it well-having followed these things from the beginning, and thus obtained exact knowledge respecting them-to write methodically to Theophilus, in order that he might have the certainty of those things in which he had been instructed. It is thus that God has provided for the instruction of the whole church, in the doctrine contained in the picture of the Lord's life furnished by this man of God; who, personally moved by christian motives, was directed and inspired by the Holy Ghost for the good of all believers."
(John Darby Synopsis of the New Testament)

Commentaries:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/

Accept the challenge, take the quest!

{ Download this devotional } { All Bible Knights Devotionals }

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
 
A prayer for the use of Holy Scripture:
 
O Gracious God and most merciful Father, who has granted us the rich and precious jewel of Your holy word, assist us with Your Spirit, that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us according to Your own Image, to build us up, and to instruct us into the perfect building of Christlikeness, sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly virtues. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
(adapted from the “1599 Geneva Bible” Tolle Lege Press, 2006-2007)
 

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